A FRIENDLY villager engaged us in conversation in the centre of Penistone last Friday.

He was out walking his grandchild in a wheelchair wife Carol and I had just been shopping at the supermarket. The conversation soon turned to food.

He extracted his pipe from his mouth and became quite excited: “Are you on holiday? You should try t’Indian at bottom o’ t’road thea,” pointing.

“We ger thea. It’s good – best Indian i’ Yorksher.”

I smiled and explained that we lived nearby and had frequented the restaurant since it opened, but thanked him for his kind advice.

As we walked back to the car Carol stopped suddenly and said that it had been some time since we last called in at the Penistone restaurant, so why didn’t we pay them a visit?

At around a quarter to seven that evening we were being shown to a table at The Taste Of India. We had been given the warmest of welcomes from the friendly staff.

With the poppadoms, pickle tray and drinks duly ordered, we could relax and survey the scene.

We developed our penchant for Indian cuisine in our days in South Yorkshire in the late 1960s and early 70s when we used to go into Sheffield. Then we rented a flat off Ecclesall Road where there were several Indian restaurants within walking distance. Happy times.

Back in the Huddersfield area and in 1987 The Taste of India opened in a former cycle shop at the Bridge in Penistone, one of the first such pioneering restaurant ventures out in the ‘sticks’ in this area.

It soon built up a faithful following, going from strength to strength.

The restaurant is run as a family-based co-operative who hail from the Keighley area from where they transported their culinary skills to tickle the palates of the Penistone area folk. This they have been doing for nearly a quarter of a century.

The restaurant had been completely redecorated since we had last called. Back in 1987 it was decked out in dark red wall coverings – yes, the then-traditional flock wallpaper and domed arches were much in evidence.

The Taste Of India also featured a large, integral fish tank with an interesting array of tropical fish. The split-level eating area is small but intimate and the food and service was of the highest order right from the start.

The therapeutic fish tank is still there, but the restaurant decor has changed significantly over the years. Now, with its latest makeover, it is lighter, airier, with subtle, pastel shades in evidence.

The attentive waiters brought the menu, a veritable small telephone directory, featuring an extensive range of dishes of varying origins. The Taste Of India families came to England from Bengal and so the food has a distinct north eastern flavour.